larry pressler is known for a distinguished career devoted to public service. as a decorated combat veteran who, after serving two tours of duty in vietnam spent 22 years on capitol hill, four in the house and 18 in the senate representing the state of south dakota. all as a republican. he just explained in a column in "the huffington post" why barack obama has earned his vote. he joins me now. senator, thank you for joining us tonight. >> thank you very much. >> eliot: so let me just ask you why. you have been a republican. you say you are still a republican. why the decision to support the incumbent president? >> it is mostly because of the vietnam disability benefits. the romney/ryan budget does not include disability benefits. the disability benefits for veterans would have to compete with the military and with all other parts of the budget. president obama has laid out a plan. he's also said he's willing to raise taxes on the wealthy. and to reduce the military budget down to the level that the -- that the military has requested to pay for it. so this is a